Mar 2024

Transitioning from industrial farming to regenerative farming takes time, it could last years before soil fully regains its nutrients and develops underground biodiversity.  While ZFPA’s Restore Fund only lasts for a year, our new grantees Organic Farmula and AuLaw Organic Farm are already keen on adopting nature-friendly methods to grow food in the long run. With the help of their TAPs, Wendy and CC have been figuring out how to implement certain practices more efficiently, starting with infrastructure installation.

As we have mentioned previously, applying compost tea and nutrient amendments regularly are necessary in the early stages of transition, but at the same time they are time consuming and manpower costly. To solve such problems, Organic Farmula and AuLaw Organic farms have purchased and are in the process of purchasing more equipment to ease their application process through our grant.

  • Compost tea was previously applied with watering cans which takes a toll on farmers as you can imagine. Now the implementation is improved by installing a separate pipe and hose for compost tea at Organic Farmula.

  • A new bucket for making compost tea and a larger facility awaits!

  • Quality control is also crucial for the success of regenerative practices. Organic Farmula’s TAP Wendy has been testing the results with the new pumps. Initial readings have shown promising results with high microbial biomass carbon, meaning there are high amounts of carbon and nutrients in the compost tea.

  • Taken prior to the start of the Restore Fund and 6 months after, Kelvis has been planting a lot more and implementing more practices to regenerate soil at her farm.

  • AuLaw Organic Farm has been testing new nutrient ferments lately, specifically coffee ferments and chicken manure.

  • Zucchinis are fruiting at the right time! Penetrometer testing also indicates this field does not have a soil compaction issue!